
Dunbar RNLI Celebrates International Women’s Day
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we salute the many women who have contributed hugely to the history of Dunbar Lifeboat Station.
Ever since Amy Divers became the first woman to join the crew in 1994, women have been an integral part of our lifeboat volunteers. Today, our three female crew members Laura Kirkham, Becs Miller and Jodi Fairbairn each bring their own unique skill set to our operation. As a paramedic, Laura has provided expert medical care and a reassuring presence for casualties and crew over the years. Personal trainer Becs is a former educational officer for the RNLI and regularly conducts talks and visits on behalf of the station as well as being an experienced crew member, while Jodi might be our newest recruit but she has spent more time on the boat than most, being the daughter of coxswain Gary Fairbairn.
When Laura, our longest serving female crew member, joined in 2006 she was one of several women on the crew at the time. She said: “I was the seventh woman to join then, which I think was quite unusual. For anyone thinking about joining the crew the same advice applies now as it did them – as long as you are prepared to get stuck in people will always help you out.”
As well as thanking Laura, Becs and Jodi for their service, we’d like to acknowledge the contribution from our other women crew members over the years, Amy Divers, Kirsten Hastie, Louise Higgingbottom, Emma Crooks, Helen Carter, Dayna Dryer, Elspeth Haston, Lyndi Thomson, Cara Davies and Elaine Jopling.
Our crew extends beyond those who answer the pager’s call and we are nothing without the many women who volunteer in our shops, our fundraisers and the wives and partners whose support allows our volunteers to help save lives at sea.
We are proud to support IWD, which aims to celebrate and promote the achievements of all women.
Douglas Wight, Dunbar RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer [email protected]
Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.